Nick Wright DOUBTS Lakers’ playoff chances but believes LeBron James’ inception will do wonders
Nick Wright discusses Lakers' and how their playoff aspirations are hanging by a thread.
Follow Us
Nick Wright and Lebron James (image via USA Today, Twitter)
In the race for the playoffs, the Los Angeles Lakers are in a tough spot. The team has struggled with injuries and inconsistent play all season, leaving them with a record of 34-36 and in 10th place in the Western Conference standings. Without LeBron James and with just 12 games left in the regular season, the Lakers are running out of time to secure a spot in the postseason.
The team needs to win at least seven of their remaining 12 games to secure a spot in the play-in tournament. If they want to avoid the play-in altogether, they’ll need to win at least nine of those games. According to sports analyst Nick Wright though, he feels the Lakers’ chances of making the playoffs are hanging by a thread.
“I’m not worried about LeBron not playing at a high level when he comes back,” Wright said. “I believe if the Lakers are in the playoffs, they are as scary as any team until Durant returns. I also believe now, it’s on the board, they’re not in the playoffs.”
Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks is crucial for the Lakers. Both teams are neck and neck in the standings and are playing without their two best players. The Lakers were defeated by the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, making Friday’s game against the Mavericks even more crucial.
If the Lakers want to keep their playoff aspirations alive, they will have to dig deep and find a way to win. With LeBron James on the mend, the club will have a chance to make a late-season push. But first and foremost, they must take care of business against the Mavericks on Friday.
Related: Nick Wright draws eyeballs by UNDERMINING Aaron Rodgers’ utility if he becomes Jets’ QB
Lakers prioritize LeBron James’ full recovery, willing to wait as long as necessary
LeBron James has been sidelined for the past two weeks due to an injury in his right foot. Although there is positive news that his foot is improving, and he has been spotted practicing free throws, the team has not set a definite timeline for his return. The Lakers anticipate that he will require considerable time to return to his regular playing form, which could take up a significant portion of the remainder of the season.
The Lakers have managed a 6-5 record without James since the All-Star break, and they currently sit in the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference. While they would prefer to finish higher in the standings, the team understands that risking James’ health for a higher seed is not worth it. The Lakers want to ensure that James is at full strength for the playoffs, where they believe they can compete for the championship.
The Lakers are determined to avoid a repeat of James’ injury setback in 2021 when he returned for just two regular-season games and struggled in the playoffs. To ensure James fully recovers, the team will give him as much time as he needs.
The Lakers will continue to monitor James’ progress, and he is set to be re-evaluated in a week and a half. He hopes to return with enough time to ramp up for several regular-season games before the play-in round begins. James’ health is the key to the Lakers’ chances of making a deep playoff run, and the team is willing to be patient to ensure that he is at full strength when it matters most.
In case you missed it:
Where does Shaquille O’Neal live? All houses owned by Shaquille O’Neal
How many rings does Giannis Antetokounmpo have?
Stay Updated!
Vivek Yadav
(624 Articles Published)